He said, "Vera, why didn’t you answer my calls? What did you mean by that post?”
When I didn’t respond, his breathing grew heavier.
He hated it when I stayed silent during arguments.
I thought he had surely come closer to find out what was happening.
Then he saw that I was dying.
"Darius, come on, come closer," I thought.
But the next moment, he seemed to calm down.
His tone became more measured, almost like he was negotiating.
"Vera, if you’re just trying to get my attention," he said, "I won’t be fooled. I’m not playing games with you."
It wasn’t a negotiation. It was a discussion.
“Vera,” he said. “You know Althea is my teacher’s only daughter. Before her death, my teacher’s wife asked me to take care of her.”
He continued, “But now she’s gravely ill, about to die. Her last wish is to have a wedding. I promise there’s nothing inappropriate between us. I mean, it’s just a formality.”
His voice gradually faded as he spoke and I could no longer hear the rest of what he said.
My soul seemed to drift out and float in the air at that moment. I saw Darius clearly, wearing a suit and frowning as if waiting for my response.
But I couldn’t respond.